West Ham United midfielder Paqueta found not guilty of gambling offenses
In a significant turn of events, Lucas Paqueta, the Brazil international and West Ham United midfielder, has been cleared of all main betting charges related to spot-fixing in the Premier League. The Football Association (FA) Regulatory Commission found the charges "not proven" following a hearing, meaning there was insufficient evidence that he deliberately influenced match events for betting purposes.
However, Paqueta was found guilty of failing to cooperate with the FA's investigation. He breached FA Rule F3 by not fully answering questions or providing information required during the FA’s inquiries. Two charges against him, related to a failure to cooperate with the FA's investigation, were found proven.
The charges against Paqueta related to a game against Leicester in November 2022 and matches against Aston Villa, Leeds, and Bournemouth in 2023. The FA is waiting for the written reasons from the independent commission regarding its decision on these charges. Once received, the commission will decide on an appropriate sanction for the proven breaches "at the earliest opportunity."
Paqueta, who joined West Ham United in 2022, expressed gratitude and eagerness to return to playing football with a smile on his face. His legal team, headed by Alastair Campbell, expressed relief over the clearance of their client. They described the case as being of significant gravity, both professionally, personally, and emotionally.
It's worth noting that Sandro Tonali, a Newcastle midfielder, received a suspended two-month ban in May last year for breaches of betting rules. Tonali was already serving a 10-month ban handed down by the Italian authorities for betting offences.
The FA will not comment further until it receives the written reasons from the independent commission. This article was published in 2025 by AFP.
Paqueta stated in a club statement that he had always maintained his "innocence against these extremely serious accusations." He demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience in facing the intense pressure of the case. West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady expressed satisfaction with the clearance of Lucas Paqueta.
In summary, Paqueta faced no sanctions for match-fixing or betting-related misconduct, but he is subject to penalties for obstructing or failing to cooperate with the FA’s investigation.
- Despite being cleared of match-fixing and betting charges in the Premier League, Lucas Paqueta was found guilty of not cooperating fully with the FA's investigation, breaching FA Rule F3.
- The sports world stayed abuzz with the general news of Lucas Paqueta's involvement in crime and justice, but it was the failure to cooperate in the FA's inquiry that resulted in consequences for the West Ham United footballer.
